Luminex receives CE mark for Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel

Luminex Corporation, a DiaSorin company, has received CE marking of its xMAP NxTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP). 

This new molecular panel is a comprehensive multiplex test that detects nucleic acids from 16 of the most clinically relevant bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens in stool samples on the MAGPIX System.

Because gastrointestinal symptoms are similar for a wide variety of infections, it can be challenging for physicians to get an accurate diagnosis and select the most appropriate treatment plan quickly enough to make a difference for patients.

A study published in 2018 found that more than 192 million cases of acute gastroenteritis were reported in Europe in just one year. Rapidly identifying the causal pathogen in these situations is a pressing need, but conventional diagnostic testing can take days or longer if tests for all possible targets are run serially.

The NxTAG GPP test provides same-day results and can run as many as 96 samples at a time. Users may also customise the targets included in the GPP test to meet the needs of their physicians.

The NxTAG GPP test covers eight types of bacteria, including C. difficile, Salmonella, and Campylobacter; five types of viruses, including norovirus and rotavirus; and three parasites, including Giardia lamblia.

Nachum “Homi” Shamir, president of Luminex, said: “With this CE marking, clinical laboratories across Europe will be able to streamline testing for patients exhibiting gastrointestinal symptoms using the NxTAG GPP test. In particular, labs that are already using the NxTAG system for respiratory infection testing should find it easy to expand their test menus with this cost-effective NxTAG GPP test.”